atherosclerosis

• main risk factors of atherosclerosis?

  high cholesterol and blood pressure
• process, 1. damage?

  due to increased blood pressure, toxins or infection occur, damaging endothelial wall of an artery
• process, 2. inflammatory response?

  accumulation of white blood cells/lipids (cholesterol) move to vessel wall, causing an inflammatory response
• process, 3. atheroma formation?

  build up of white blood cells engulfing lipids causes fatty deposits.

  • fatty build up is called atheroma
• process, 4. plaque formation?

  calcium ions and fibrous tissue builds up, causing hard swell in wall and vessel starts to lose elasticity.
• process, 5. lumen blockage?

  lumen narrows, following positive feedback process (narrow lumen means an increase in blood flow, causing further damage to endothelial wall)